lumpy darkness

Observation notes (with equipment details), photos, sketches, reviews, software tips, random thoughts, by an amateur astronomer.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

welcome to the lumpy companion

These pages contain companion material to the lumpy darkness blog (hosted at blogger.com). These evergreen pages are stored on my corporate server (for a variety of reasons).

The telescope links on the right access separate 'scope pages for my Mom and me. We keep detailed information and photographs here of equipment and accessories.

In the tradition of naturalists, birders, and astronomers, I maintain "life lists" of astronomical sightings and accomplishments.

Within, you'll find links to presentations I have delivered and the handouts provided.

You'll find reference materials in the "other" area. For example, if you need to include Greek characters in your web pages, see my notes.

Finally, I've included a variety of links to web sites: magazines, retail stores in Ontario, clubs, weather and sky condition sites, space telescopes, and so on. Not all-encompassing lists by any stretch, just ones I regularly use...

dark skies,
Blake
astronomy at computer-ease dot com

 

 

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

launched SkySafari page

Deployed a new web page. It is for the SkySafari mobile app. Like the other software pages, like SkyTools and Stellarium, I plan to share tips and tricks, cautions and warnings, etc.

 

 

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

Finest NGC gallery

It occurred to me to make a gallery specifically to show my images of the RASC Finest NGC objects, captured with robotic telescopes accessible by social media. While the BGO and ARO images are shown in my main image gallery, they are not in any particular order or grouping. So my FNGC gallery lists the 110+ celestial objects the same way they are noted in the RASC Observer's Handbook.

 

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2019

maker article

I've created a new page that collates all the information for maker project. It is the first of many. This will make it easier to review an entire build or hack as opposed to jumping around in the blog proper. I'm just trying to nail down the structure and format of this pending section. In the meantime, enjoy the item on the custom do-it-yourself home-made dew heater controller. This article discusses the project objectives, estimates the research and build times, includes the schemetic and parts list, and notes the tools and supplies used.

 

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017

rejigged resources

Previously, I had a "software resources" section on this evergreen web site but with the addition of hardware-related materials, I thought it appropriate to embrace all. So this section is rebadged simply "resources" and will include direct links where appropriate.

 

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

added N11 QRC

A couple of years ago I made a quick reference guide for the Celestron NexStar 11 GPS telescope and mount, for RASC members interested in flying the 'scope at the Carr Astronomical Observatory. I put this N11 guide online, for a couple of reasons.

 

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

updated 'scopes

Added a page for the Meade ETX 90 (which is in my care). It looks like I never directly referenced the page for the GoToStar system (although it is tagged from the SP-C8 page).

 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014

updated capture plan

Added the video capture plan steps for an ISS flyover. I will consult this checklist in the future to rapidly prepare for a satellite pass.

 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014

darks

Added a dark frames page to this site. To keep track of darks captured with the Canon 40D DSLR camera at various durations, ISO settings, and dates.

 

 

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

peepers

A year ago, I was observing at the Carr Astronomical Observatory. The peepers were very loud... Listen to the short MP3.

 

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

focusing masks presentation

Delivered a talk on focus masks for telescopes or camera lenses. This was provided to the RASC Toronto Centre in December 2013 at the Ontario Science Centre.

The presentation file notes pages, with the slide images, were converted to a PDF file (3.1 MB). [Updated!]

The handout provided is also available for download (32 KB).

Also, for the viewer's convenience, the links in the bibliography have been noted here, and they are hyper.

  • Lodriguss’s site
    http://www.astropix.com/
  • Bahtinov mask templates
    http://astrojargon.net/MaskGen.aspx
  • Bahtinov Grabber (off-line)
  • http://www.njnoordhoek.com/
  • Magnifying Glass Free
    http://workerscollection.com/wcollect/english/html/mg.html
  • tethering options
    http://www.tethertools.com/plugging-in/software/
  • BackyardEOS
    http://www.backyardeos.com/

Enjoy.

 

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

new checklist

I made a new checklist. It is for when I record double star drifts. It will hopefully remind me of all the things I need to do and gather for a successful recording (so to enable a successful reduction).

 

 

MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010

meteor watching sounds

With a Sony linear PCM recorder, I briefly captured the experience of watching for Perseid meteors at the RASC Toronto Centre CAO observatory on the Blue Mountains. It's just over 3 minutes long.

stereo sound byte (4.4 MB, MP3 format, 44.1kHz, 192kbps)

 

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007

new pointer

Slight change to the menus in this site: created a "pointer" to emphasise which page you are presently viewing. Hope you like it!

 

 

 

 

links

    lumpy darkness sites:
    blog proper
(*)   lists home
   
    telescopes:
    SP-C8 SCT
    GoToStar system
    Edmund 6" newt
    ETX90-RA MCT
    FirstScope 3" newt
    accessories
   
    life lists:
    planets, moons, etc.
    constellations
    notable stars
    double stars *
    Messier objects
    NGC objects
    other deep sky objects
  eclipses
  occultations
  photo gallery
  magnitude limit
  to do
   
    resources:
    SkyTools
    Stellarium
    TheSky
    NexStar 11
    Aladin quick query
   
    other lists:
    Greek alphabet in HTML
    judging angular size
    atlases, books, software
    what's up for the year
    meteor showers
  with just your eyes
  assessing darkness
   observing preparation
  presentations
  articles
   tips and tricks
    builds and hacks
    wx dashboards
  
    web site links:
    magazines
  sky conditions
  predicting aurora
  science and research
  space telescopes
    double stars sites
    retail stores
    clubs and associations
    DIY observatories
    miscellaneous